Vibrating hopper apparatus



J. H. HAMPTON 2,685,986

Aug. 1o, 1954 VIBRATING HOPPER APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fired Feb. 1, 1949 Aug. 10, 1954 J. H. HAMPTON VIBRATING HOPPER APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1 1949 INVENTOR. 'JOHN HHAMPTON 8% m A rroRA/EV Las Patented Aug. 10, 1954 UNITED TENT QFFICE VIBRATING HOPPER APPARATUS Application'February 1, 1949, Serial No. 73,925

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to soot and dust hoppers and more particularly to an improved construction of such hopper having means operatively associated therewith for agitating the material collected in the hopper to prevent such arching of the material above the hopper discharge opening as would interfere with its free discharge from the hopper.v

`Among the principal objects of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and effective mechanism for vibrating finely comminuted material as it is received in a hopper to insure continuous gravitational iiow of the material through and from the hopper, the mechanism being designed for continuous operation by an electric motor drive means which is simple and economical in construction, which is adapted to be readily installed for operative association` with the hopper and which is exceedingly effective and eicient in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that the present invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as shown in the accompanying drawings, as described in detail hereinafter and as finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative of a preferred construction of the present invention, Figure l is an end elevational View, partially in section of a hopper in association with the vibratory mechanism of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view, also partially in section, as taken along the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view as taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure i is a sectional view as taken along the line d t of Figure 1 showing a constructional detail of the hopper;

Figure 5 is a sectional view as taken along the line 5 5 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a view of the apparatus on a somewhat enlarged scale as taken along the line 6 8 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a sectional view as taken along the line 1 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a sectional view as taken along the line 3 8 of Figure 2; and

Figure 9 is a face View of one of the eccentrically weighted elements of the apparatus as viewed from the line 9 9 of Figure 7.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be observed that theapparatus of the present invention includes a downwardly con--v present verging hopper I@ having a discharge throat il at its bottom end with which is operatively associated a motor drivenV rotating gate mechanism i2 or other suitable device for controlling the discharge from the hopper of the finely comminuted solid material received therein, which material may be powdered coal, fly ash, dust, cement or the like. It is a known fact that such materials tend to form a natural arch over the discharge opening of the hopper which interferes with the gravitational discharge of the material therefrom and in order to prevent such arching of the material the hopper i0 is internally provided with a centrally disposed, vertically extending plate i3 which is adapted to be vibrated in such manner as to subject the material in the hopper, particularly in the Zone thereof wherein the material tends naturally to form a compact arch or bridge, to such vibration that arching or bridging of the material is effectively prevented. The mechanism for vibrating the plate i3 will be described in detail hereinafter, it being noted at this point that the plate i3 is of a size and shape and so arranged as to substantially bisect the interior of the hopper Iii, the upper odge of the plate being so pivotally supported Within the hopper as to permit the suspended body of the plate to be freely oscillated about its supporting pivots.

As most clearly appears in Figures l, 4 and 5, the upper edge of the plate it has welded thereto a longitudinally extending angle member lil the angularly related branches illeita of which are symmetrically disposed to either side oi the plate i3. The opposite ends of the angle member l respectively project beyond the corresponding ends of the plate i3 to provide for the plate i3 a pair of freely projecting supporting elements I5 (see Figure 4) each of inverted i/shape These supporting elements l5 i 5 are respectively fulorumed on a pair of supporting brackets Ii i riveted or otherwise suitably secured to opposite side Walls of the hopper Eil, the general arrangement being such that when the opposite ends of the member it are respectively mounted pivotally upon the supporting brackets ie-it the plate I3 xed to and supported by the member l5 is free to oscillate about its pivotal supports In order to vprevent displacement of the oscillatable plate i3 from its supporting'brackets iti-l 6, a pair of suitably bent bolts il (see Fig. 4)

are respectively loosely projected through andV secured to the angularly related sides of each plate supporting element l5 by means of nuts I9 threaded thereon. I f desired, the oscillatable plate I3 may be iitted adjacent its lower end with a pair of screen members 2li-20 disposed in horizontal coplanar relation and of such size and shape as to provide for adequate screening of the material received Within the hopper without, however, interfering with oscillation or vibration of the pivotally suspended plate I3. To this end, the marginal edges of the screen 2li-2e terminate short of the corresponding proximate walls of the hopper i6.

Secured to the lower end of the plate I3 at a point immediately above the discharge throat II of the hopper I3 is a rod 2l operative to efect the desired oscillation or vibration of the plate I3, the inner end of this rod being suitably Yponnected to the plate i3 by a coacting pair er clamp nuts 22 threaded on to the rod. The rod 2i projects laterally of the hopper l@ thrgugh an opening 23 formed in one side wall thereoi, this opening being in turn externally covered by a housing 24 suitably Welded or otherwise secured to the hopper. The housing 24 is provided with an inclined bottom wall 25 and with a centrally apertured outer wall 26, the rod 2i being reversely bent, as most clearly appears in Figure 6 to provide a pair oi vertically oiiset substantially paraln lel portions 2 and 23 and a connecting intermediate portion 23. The intermediate portion 23 of the rod 2i extends substantially parallel -to vthe inclined bottom Wall 23 oi the external housing 24, while the outer portion 28 of the rod extends horizontally outwardly through the opening 3i.) in the outer wall 25 of the housing 24. it will be apparent that when the outer portion 23 or the arm is axially reciprocated, the inner portion 2l thereof will be correspondingly reciprocated with resultant vibration or oscillation of the plate i3 relatively to its upper pivotal supports.

To prevent escape of any of the material from the hopper Iii by way of t-he side openings 23 and 30, the outwardly projecting portion 28 of the plate vibrating rod 2i is fitted with a bellshaped rubber diaphragm 3l, the reduced outer end of this diaphragm `being secured to the rod 29 in closely embracing relation with respect thereto by means of a suitable clamp 32, While the flared inner edge of the diaphragm is tightly clamped against an annular flange 32 formed on the outer end or the housing 24 by means of an annular clamp member 33' secured to the housing ange 32 by a series of circumferentially spaced bolts 34. It will be understood that the diaphragm 3| is suihciently ilexible 4to permit limited but rapid reciprocation of the plate vibrating rod 2l, while adequately sealing the hopper against escape of material by way of its 'lateral openings 23 and 39,

The mechanism for axially reciprocating Vthe plate vibrating rod 2I is disposed eieriorly of the hopper Ii) closely adjacent its Vdischarge end and comprises a main base member 35 suitably xed to the floor or other support for the vhoplill'f said base member having mounted thereon ,a pair of laterally spaced, vertically extending `leaf spring units SiS-36. The upper ends of these leaf spring units are respectively fitted with brackets 3'i-3' which serve as journal blocks for the opposite ends of arotatable shaft 138 dieppsel approximately in the horizontal nien@ f and right angles to the outwardly extending end portion 23 of the plate vibrating rod 2i.

Interconnectne the Smit-,bea lng 'brackets Sli-.31 in laterally spaced parallel relative ,to .the shaft 38 is a horizontally extending Avconnetinng plate 39 te approximately themiripeint et is secured the .outer yend .Qi .the plate-rimane rod 2|, as by a bolt 4D projected through the plate 39 and threaded into the rod 2l. The rotatable shaft 38 and the plate 39 are thus both carried by the brackets 3'I-3l mounted upon the upper ends of the leaf spring units 2li-3T and are connected as a unit to the plate-vibrating rod 2I, with the result that when the upper ends of the spring units are vibrated the rod 2i is correspondingly axially reciprocated to vibrate the pivotally support plate I3 in the hopper I3.

To effect the desired vibration of the spring units 37-f3l, the rotatable shaft 38 journalled therebetween is centrally litted with a belt pulley 4I and with a pair of eccentrically Weighted wheels {l2-82 disposed equidistantly to either side of the pulley 4I, the pulley lI and the Weighted wheels {I2-..42 being all suitably keyed to the shaft 33 for rotation therewith. The Wheels 42 132 are preferably eccentrically weighted by removing `portions thereof, as at :i3- 43, as shown in Figure 9. The pulley 4I is connected by a belt M to a pulley 45 keyed to the shaft of an electric motor 45 suitably mounted upon the base member 35, the arrangement being such that as the motor drives the shaft 38 through the belt drive as described the unbalanced wheels 42-42 on the shaft operate to cause it to vibrate laterally of its axis of rotation upon the supporting leaf spring units ill- 31. This vibration of the shaft 38 is in turn imparted to the plate 39 connected to the rod 2i and consequently the latter is axially reciprocated to effect vibration of the hopper plate I3 in correspondence with the vibrations of the rotating shaft 38.

inasmuch as the hopper plate i3 is rigidly connected to the supports for the rotating shaft 38 by means of the rod 2l, lateral vibration of the shaft 33 is directly transmitted to hopper plate I3 with "little, if any, -noise. In view of the fact that the outer end of the reiprocatory rod 2| is completely sealed Within the flexible diaphragm, leakage of dust and the like from the hopper laterally by Way of the openings through Vwhich the rod 2l projects is eifectually precluded. 'lnas much as the rod 2l is subject to a slight roel;- ing action in a vertical plane when it is reciprocatorily actuated Vby the laterally Vibrating shaft 38, the flexible diaphragm 3| serves the additional important funcien 0f S0 iiexbly supporting the onter end of the rod 2| as to peimit the meer shia freely and without binding restriction under the vibratoryiniluence of the ,rotating shaft 38. Thus, the motor 46, operating atnormal speed and with .a minimum of load thereon, is operative to eil? efficient vibration oi the hopper niet@ t0 insure against any arching 0r bridging of the nely divided material across the discharge opening in the bottom of the hopper.

1t rwill be understood, of course, that the present invention is susceptible o f various .changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from .the general prin-Y ciples or real spirit thereof, and it 4is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly, as Wellas specifically, as indicated by the appended claims. What-is ,claimed as new and .useful is: I l. in an apparatus of the character described, a hopper adapted for receiving comminuted ma# terial and discharging the nsame .through anopening in the bottom thereof, a vbratory plate member h .insely Suspended Within ,Said hopper and adapted for agitating the contents thereof to preventmaterial arching, over the discharge openine, .and mechanism for vibrating said plate member without vibrating said hopper, said weighted elements on said shaft operative upon rotation of said shaft to vibrate said yieldable means whereby to axially reciprocate said rod and vibrate said plate member suspended as aforesaid within said hopper.

2. In an apparatus of the character defined in claim l wherein the yieldable means includes a pair of laterally' spaced leaf spring members, and

Va cross member interconnecting the upper end portions of said leaf spring members, and wherein said cross member is connected substantially at its midpoint to the outer end portion of the vibrating rod.

3. In an apparatus of the character defined in claim 1 wherein the yieldable means includes a pair of laterally spaced leaf spring members, and a cross member interconnecting the upper end portions of said leaf spring members, wherein said cross member is connected substantially at its midpoint to the outer end of the Vibrating rod and wherein the eccentrically weighted rotatable shaft is disposed substantially in the horizontal plane of the outer end portion of said vibratory rod.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a hopper adapted for receiving comminuted material and discharging the same through an opening in the bottom thereof, a vibratory plate member hingedly suspended within said hopper and adapted for agitating the contents thereof to prevent material arching o-ver the discharge opening, and mechanism for vibrating said plate member without vibrating said hopper, said mechanism including a horizontally reciprocable rod secured to the lower end of said plate member, and projecting outwardly therefrom through an opening in the side wall of said hopper, means for sealing said hopper side wall opening including a housing on said hopper side wall, said rod additionally projecting outwardly as aforesaid through an opening in the side wall of said housing, and a bell-shaped flexible diaphragm disposed in embracing relation to the outer end portion of said rod, the base end of said diaphragm being secured to one of said side walls and the opposite end portion being secured to said rod and an assemblir positionally fixed relative to said hopper and supportingly disassociated therefrom including vertically extending yieldable means connected to said rod, a horizontally extending shaft mounted on said yieldable means and extending laterally o-f said rod, means for effecting rotation of said shaft, and eccentrically weighted elements on said shaft operative upon rotation of said shaft to vibrate said yieldable means whereby to axially reciprocate said rod and vibrate said plate member suspended as aforesaid within said hopper.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a hopper adapted for receiving comminuted material and discharging the same through an opening in the bottom thereof, a vibratory plate member hingedly suspended within said hopper and adapted for agitating the contents thereof to prevent material arching over the discharge opening, and mechanism for vibrating said plate member without vibrating said hopper, said mechanism including a horizontally reciprocable rod secured to the lower end of said plate member, and projecting outwardly therefrom through an opening in the side wall of said hopper, means for sealing said hopper side wall opening including a housing on the outside of said hopper side wall, said rod additionally projecting outwardly as aforesaid through an opening in the side wall of said housing which is upwardly offset from said opening in the side Wall of said hopper, and a bell-shaped flexible diaphragm disposed in emrelaticn to the outer end portion of said rod, the base end of said diaphragm being secured to said housing and the opposite end portion being secured to said rod, and an assembly positionally xed relative to said hopper and supportingly disassociated therefrom including vertically extending yieldable means connected to said rod, a horizontally extending shaft mounted on said yieldable means and extending laterally of said rod, means for effecting rotation of said shaft, and eccentrically weighted elements on said shaft operative upon rotation of said shaft to vibrate said yieldable means whereby to axially reciprocate said rod and vibrate said plate member suspended as aforesaid within said hopper.

In an apparatus of the character described, a hopper adapted for receiving comminuted material and discharging the same through an opening in the bottom thereof, a vibratory plate member hingedly suspended within said hopper and adapted for agitating the contents thereof to prevent material arching over the discharge opening, and mechanism for vibrating said plate member without vibrating said hopper, said mechanisrn including a horizontally reciprocable rod secured to the lower end of said plate member, and projecting outwardly therefrom through an opening in the side wall of said hopper, means for sealing said hopper side wall opening including a housing on the outside of said hopper side wall, the outer end portion of said rod being upwardly offset from the inner end portion thereof and said rod additionally projecting outwardly as aforesaid through an opening in the side wall of said housing which is upwardly oifset from said hopper side wall opening, and a bell-shaped ilexible diaphragm disposed in embracing relation to the outer end portion of said rod, the base end of said diaphragm being secured to said housing and the opposite end portion being secured to said rod, and an assembly positionally xed relative to said hopper and supportingly disassociated therefrom including vertically extending yieldable means connected to said rod, a horizontally extending shaft mounted on said yieldable means and extending laterally of said rod, means for effecting rotation of saidshaft, and eccentrically weighted elements on said shaft operative upon rotation of said shaft to vi-brate said yieldable means whereby to axially reciprocate said rod and vibrate said plate member suspended as aforesaid within said hopper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 830,309 Draver Sept. 4, 1906 1,942,581 Tolman Jan. 9, 1934 2,209,143 Tolman July 23, 1940 2,246,497 Beck June 24, 1941 2,446,750 Ferris Aug. 10, 1948 2,497,024 Pujol y Font Aug. 16, 1949 

